Pundari in India

People Name:	Pundari
Country:	India
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	329,000
World Population:	338,700
Primary Language:	Bengali
Primary Religion:	Hinduism
Christian Adherents:	0.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Online Audio NT:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	South Asia Hindu - other
Affinity Bloc:	South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Pods are a scheduled caste which originated from what is now Bangladesh. They speak Bengali. They prefer to be called Poundra. Their name means lotus. They are divided into a number of clans. West Bengal is the home of almost three million Hindu Pod people, but this people group has smaller populations all over India.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The majority live by farming small tracts of land. Some of them own their own land. The landless among them work in other occupations such as fishing, carpentry and bamboo work. Their women weave mats to help their families earn a living. Education has become important to them and they work hard so their children can attend school. They are endogamous (preferring to marry within the community) and monogamous. Marriage can be by family arrangement or mutual consent. On the death of the father, sons inherit the property with the oldest son becoming in charge of the home. Disagreements are settled by a council.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Almost all members of the Pod community are Hindus. Hindus tend to be pragmatic about their spiritual beliefs, worshipping whatever god they believe will offer them protection and prosperity.

What Are Their Needs?

The Pods need to put all their trust in Jesus Christ, the one who can and will bless them beyond what any of them can imagine.

Prayer Points

Pray that God will give them dreams and visions leading them to Jesus Christ. Pray for spiritual discernment and hunger. Pray for a disciple making movement among the Pod people.